Fulbright ETA in Vietnam vs. Boren Academic Year in Taiwan

[kbui]

I've applied for the Boren and Fulbright ETA scholarships, which are both very prestigious. From what I've heard, the Fulbright does have a very good name while the Boren is less known outside the government or academia.

I've gotten into the final round for the Fulbright, and I'm still hearing back from the Boren. If I am blessed and receive both, which one should I take?

Fulbright

Pros: Teach English to university students, connect back to my native culture, increasing my own Vietnamese language skills, talking to the people to get a deeper insight into the health and societal problems of the people of my host environment

Cons: It's an ETA and not a research grant, once I get a Fulbright ETA I won't be able to get another grant, it'll just be one bullet point on my resume/graduate school application

Boren

Pros: Finish my B.A. in Mandarin Chinese in addition to my B.S. in Biology, achieving fluency/proficiency in the language (currently, I'm at the advanced level), experience a new culture/language, it'll be a great addition to my resume if I've studied abroad and is proficient in three languages (English, Vietnamese, and Mandarin)

Cons: Many people have a double majors so I won't have an edge, it's not a Fulbright, the scholarship won't pay for all of my fees so I'll need to take out more loans (unless I get the other scholarships I'm applying for also)

Either way, I think I'll be able to incorporate a health aspect to it to go towards my future aspirations to develop a career in Global Health in China and Southeast Asia.

Please help! What do you think would be the best? Thank you GradCafe community!

[washdc]

Fulbright.. more prestigious, pays your fees, you can develop your Vietnamese further, shows you've lived abroad a year, and you can still say you're proficient on your resume in Chinese if you're at advanced level.

[pelevinfan]

Just something to think about, from the Fulbright ETA page (coming from a fellow ETA finalist)

Multiple Fulbright Grants

• A student who has received a U.S. Department of State-funded U.S. Student Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Grant may apply for a U.S. Department of State-funded Study/Research Award provided two years have elapsed from the end of the Teaching Assistantship Award.
  
  
• Recipients of U.S. Department of State-funded U.S. Student Fulbright Grants
  are eligible
  to receive the U.S. Department of Education's Fulbright-Hays DDRA award one year following the completion of their U.S. Department of State-funded grant.
  
  
• Candidates may apply for both the Fulbright U.S. Student Grant and the Fulbright-Hays DDRA award in the same year. However, if awarded both, the candidate
  can only accept one award
  and must decline the other.
  
  

*edit to include link to page* http://us.fulbrightonline.org/eligibility.html

so, given that you actually can apply for a research grant in the future, I really don't see any disadvantage for taking a better-funded, generally more well-known (though of course no less competitive and 'impressive') grant.

But, if both of them do come through for you (what an impressive applicant you'd be!), then that will be the time to further evaluate.

Edited March 7, 2012 by pelevinfan

[kbui]

Just something to think about, from the Fulbright ETA page (coming from a fellow ETA finalist)

Multiple Fulbright Grants

• A student who has received a U.S. Department of State-funded U.S. Student Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Grant may apply for a U.S. Department of State-funded Study/Research Award provided two years have elapsed from the end of the Teaching Assistantship Award.
  
  
• Recipients of U.S. Department of State-funded U.S. Student Fulbright Grants
  are eligible
  to receive the U.S. Department of Education's Fulbright-Hays DDRA award one year following the completion of their U.S. Department of State-funded grant.
  
  
• Candidates may apply for both the Fulbright U.S. Student Grant and the Fulbright-Hays DDRA award in the same year. However, if awarded both, the candidate
  can only accept one award
  and must decline the other.
  
  

*edit to include link to page* http://us.fulbrighto...ligibility.html

so, given that you actually can apply for a research grant in the future, I really don't see any disadvantage for taking a better-funded, generally more well-known (though of course no less competitive and 'impressive') grant.

But, if both of them do come through for you (what an impressive applicant you'd be!), then that will be the time to further evaluate.

I greatly appreciate this advice pelevinfan. I know what to do now! (But, still waiting on hearing from both places. LORD please let me have at least ONE scholarship!)

[riverguide]

Do the Boren and then do the Fulbright as a fellowship. Just my two cents but its also my plan. I completed the Boren this year and I'm applying for the Fulbright to return to the Middle East for the year after next. Taking your language from advanced to superior would be my suggestion. Once, you pass on a Boren Scholarship, all that you have left is the Boren fellowship. I vote for the Boren. Good luck either way.

[OregonGal]

I don't know about the undergrad Boren or the Fulbright, but the graduate Boren fellowship has a public service requirement--you commit to working for the US government in a security-related position (meaning IR/public policy/DoD agency) and they help you find that job. If that's the path you want to take and the requirement is the same for the undergrad, but not for the Fulbright, that would be my reason to take the Boren over Fulbright.

Good luck either way!